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- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. A. GARDNER. Triple Cylinder-Engine.

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i 'F. A. GA NEPJ. Triple Gylin -Engine. I

No. 226,055 Patented'Mar. so, 1880 Riyal? 6 1442 1-6336: 131 V617. t or;

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l PETERS, Pflol'O-UTNOGRJPMER, WASHINGTON D O Fries.

FREDERlGK A. GARDNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO B. DUNBAR & SON, OF SAME PLACE.

TRIPLE-CYLINDER ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,055, dated March 30, 1880,

Application filed February 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. GARD- NER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Triple- Oylinder Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple and durable engine for rapid rotary work; and it consists, first, in the combination, with the steam-cylinders and forming a part thereof, of a disk arranged in front of the cylinders provided with two circular endless steam-passages,one for exhaust, one for livesteam, each having inlet and outlet ports and ports adapted to a suitable valve-motion, substantially as specified, for controlling the action of the engine, as will be more clearly here inafter shown; second, in the construction of a grooved eccentric and its several parts, in combination with the several cylinder-valves, whereby a single eccentric gives the necessary movements for operating the valves of all the cylinders; third, in a novel manner of securing the ends of the connecting-rods to the crank-pin, whereby they are held more securely in place, and a receptacle is provided for retaining a portion of the lubricating material, all of which will be more clearly hereinafter shown by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, with one of the steam-chests left off to show the position of the ports connected with the steam-passages in the disk. Fig. 2 is a section through the eccentric in line X of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 represents a front view of the eccentric and the curved pieces which fit in the eccentric groove and connect with the valve-stems. Fig. at is a back elevation of the engine, the cover for the central space between the cylinders beingleft off. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the center of the cylinders and piston-heads. Fig. 6 represents a transverse section through line Y, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the crank-shaft, crank-pin, a portion of two of the connecting-rods, and the devices for holding them to the crank-pin. Fig. Sis an end view of the crank shaft and pin, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged central cross-section through the device or cap for holding the ends of the' connecting-rods in place.

A A A represent three cylinders, formed in one piece with the disk B. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) In the disk B there are two circular steampassages, 0 being the exhaust-passage and D the steam-passage. The exhaust-passage O communicates with the steam-chest in each cylinder by a port, 0, and the steam-passage D connects with the steanrchest in each cylinder by a port, D. Each cylinder is provided with one steam-port, E, leading from the steam-chest E to its upper or outer end. (See Figs. 1 and 6.)

The steampipe for admitting steam to the cylinders is connected to the disk at D? or any other convenient place leading to the passage D, and the exhaust-pipe is fastened to the disk at or about 0 F represents the eccentric wheel or disk. It is bored out at F to fit the crank shaft, to which it isfastened by a set-screw.

The eccentric is in the form of a groove, F into which are fitted three pieces, G, so as to move easily in said groove. They are each fastened by a pin, G, to the valve-stem G (See Fig. 1.)

In Fig. 6, H represents the valve, connected with the valve-stem in the usual way. The ends of the valve-stems are squarev where they connectby pins G to the curved pieces G, and are kept in line by slots H in the hub H into which they are fitted. (See Figs. 1 and 6.)

I (see Fig. 5) represents the connecting-rods. They are formed with the spherical ball I at the ends, which fit into corresponding sockets in the piston-heads I and are held thereto by a pin or screw, 1 Their opposite ends are curved to fit the crank-pin, and are kept in place by caps J, an enlarged section of which is shown in Fig. 9. This cap has an opening, J, which fits the crank-pin, and is provided with a rim, J which incloses the curved side projections, K, at the crank end of the connecting-rods.

I am aware that the side projections, K, have heretofore been held to the crank-pin by means of open rings made to spring over said projections into a groove to receive them; but the caps J are a stronger device for the purposes, and their form is such that the sides of the parts K are also inclosed and the lubricating material is retained by them better than by the open rings above mentioned. When the parts are all together these caps fit between the cranks K and hold everything to its place. (See Fig. 7.)

Two or more cylinders with their valves and connections may be combined with the disk B, and the one eccentric F will give the proper movements to all.

The operation of the engine will be understood by reference to Fig. 6, in which the valve is in position for conducting steam to the cylinder A, the steam passing from D, in the direction of the arrows through the passage E.

It will be readily seen that while one part of the eccentric moves one "alve backward or to its farthest point toward the crank-shaft,

or in the position to admit steam to one cylinder, the valve-sten1,one-third of the circumference behind it, will be moved in the same proportion in the opposite direction, or in the position for exhausting the steam from that cylinder, and so on.

The disk 13 may be made of any other shape D opening into the steam-chests E, in combination with the valves H, their connections Gr G and grooved eccentric F, as and for the purposes described.

2. The grooved eccentric F, in combination with two or more curved pieces, Gr, connected to valve-stems G as specified, for operating two or more valves, H, as set forth.

3. The connecting'rods I, provided with a ball-shaped end, I, adapted to work in a socket in the piston-heads, as specified, and provided with the curved side projections, K, in combination with the caps J, arranged to fit the crank-pin, and having rims J as de scribed.

F. A. GARDNER.

Witnesses:

JAMES SANGSTER, A. J. SANGSTER. 

